Coronavirus hotbed NY set to run out of ventilators in 6 days: Governor Cuomo

New York has enough ventilators in stock to last another 6 days at the current rate they are being used in hospitals to treat coronavirus patients, and is working to convert other machines to address any shortage, the governor said on Thursday.

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Given the cases mounting in his state, Andrew Cuomo said it would be too late to wait for ventilators from manufacturers just now converting production lines or ramping up to make more of the machines critical for treating the disease.

He said New York was looking to purchase ventilators from China, the main producer, and had ordered 3,000 so-called BiPAP machines, which are usually to treat chronic obstruction lung disease, for conversion into ventilators.

"The burn rate is troubling," Cuomo told a daily briefing, referring to the rate at which hospitals are having to deploy ventilators. "I can say with confidence we have researched every possibility, every idea, every measure you can possibly take."